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I've ordered the Korean model of the s8 and got some questions

Hello xda!
I've searched the web but found nothing, my question as you might have guessed from the title is the following.
Is the s8+ like the s7 edge locked to a region ? And can someone who received there phone confirm this.
To be clear I don't mean sim lock but region lock.
Thanks

Bump

denja12 said:
Hello xda!
I've searched the web but found nothing, my question as you might have guessed from the title is the following.
Is the s8+ like the s7 edge locked to a region? And can someone who received their phone confirm this.
To be clear I don't mean sim lock but region lock.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*Since September 2013, Samsung has implemented a 'region lock' on all new stock.
For correct operation, this handset should be activated inside one of these countries with a SIM card issued for use there. The device will then be able to accept SIM cards from outside of these countries.
Activation requires turning the device on for the first time & completing set-up with the SIM installed, then completing at least 5 minutes of voice call(s) with this SIM.
Without activation you may still use the device outside of these countries when 'roaming' - using a SIM card from the listed countries.
If this activation procedure is not followed then the device will lock when first attempted to be used with a SIM card from outside of these regions. Local Samsung support may provide a code to unlock such handsets.
**All member states of the E.E.A and the following additional territories: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M), Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia and Vatican City.
From what i understand you might need a sim from Korea to activate it once activated it will work worldwide with any sim card. i could be wrong but that’s how i think it works!

... watched a couple of unboxing videos but I've seen some models where the seal says "European Sim only" and factory seals where it just says the usual information about if seal is broken ...

I bought on Ebay the S8+ 128g and the seller said me it will be full unlock, i am in France, i receive it next week ... i will tell you ^^ ...

androidrouen said:
I bought on Ebay the S8+ 128g and the seller said me it will be full unlock, i am in France, i receive it next week ... i will tell you ^^ ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what happened?
Does the activation call work if done with an european SIM but outside europe's network (i.e. roaming)?

I have the SM-955N Korean Telecom version. When I went to buy it, I asked them if they had any factory sealed. The owner said that's not possible, all exported Korean phones need to be opened and activated in Korea before exporting if you want them unlocked.
I can put in any sim card now (tested with a HK sim and Japanese sim). Both work fine, but need to do some service mode tinkering to get LTE to work.
Sent from my SM-G955N using Tapatalk

forsberg78 said:
I have the SM-955N Korean Telecom version. When I went to buy it, I asked them if they had any factory sealed. The owner said that's not possible, all exported Korean phones need to be opened and activated in Korea before exporting if you want them unlocked.
I can put in any sim card now (tested with a HK sim and Japanese sim). Both work fine, but need to do some service mode tinkering to get LTE to work.
Sent from my SM-G955N using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do they have a custom boot animation when they turn on, with the Korean carrier's name on it?

Yes I have the KT logo
Sent from my SM-G955N using Tapatalk

forsberg78 said:
Yes I have the KT logo
Sent from my SM-G955N using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are there any markings on the device? Like branding of the carrier?

Nope. There's a line at the back of the device that shows the model number, imei, and the letters KT but it's like very small font, you wouldn't be able to see it unless you looked for it
Sent from my SM-G955N using Tapatalk

forsberg78 said:
Nope. There's a line at the back of the device that shows the model number, imei, and the letters KT but it's like very small font, you wouldn't be able to see it unless you looked for it
Sent from my SM-G955N using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would you be able to record the boot animation so we know how it looks like? Thanks! :highfive:

Is there a way to do it within the system? I don't have another device to record it with
Sent from my SM-G955N using Tapatalk

Confirmed I had to have my SM-955N unlocked and used in Korea before shipping. Also have the KT logo. Back is actually less busy than other versions without all the FCC, CE etc logos.

Psytric said:
Confirmed I had to have my SM-955N unlocked and used in Korea before shipping. Also have the KT logo. Back is actually less busy than other versions without all the FCC, CE etc logos.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you have to go into service mode to unlock the LTE bands?
At the beginning I only got 3g but after going into service mode and playing with the network bands I somehow got LTE
Sent from my SM-G955N using Tapatalk

forsberg78 said:
Did you have to go into service mode to unlock the LTE bands?
At the beginning I only got 3g but after going into service mode and playing with the network bands I somehow got LTE
Sent from my SM-G955N using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, but I live in China, it shows as "LTE+". Your region's mileage may vary.

I was going to make another thread, but then I saw this! I live in the US, have T-Mobile and bought a Samsung Galaxy S8+ off eBay from the Korean market. It says SK TELECOM. I currently have a lot of issues. I really regret my decision, but I'm trying to eliminate some possibilities. I spent days troubleshooting with T-Mobile and I not longer believe it to be an issue with them.
As N1NJATH3ORY pointed out, there may be a region lock. My phone appeared factory sealed. Although it doesn't say that I'm roaming or anything like that. My symptoms are: Unable to simultaneously use Data and Voice, phone calls taking approx. 15 minutes to go through and phone calls not being received and going directly to voicemail. Not to mention that some settings just are not available. For instance, Network Mode only shows me 2 options. "Use LTE when available" and "3G only". After talking with T-Mobile techs they mentioned for their phones they have one option that includes an auto-connect, LTE, 4G, 3G, Edge, etc. Since the phone is not originally a T-Mobile line, I could understand why I wouldn't see that. Still it seems very limited to only say "Use LTE when available".
There's also other things that are less pressing, but would be nice to have. Such as: Samsung Pay, WiFi Calling, VoLTE, Carrier Updates, get rid of mandatory camera shutter noise, more SOS features like US, etc.
For right now I would at least like a stable network connection for my phone. I fear I'll have to buy a new phone and have wasted the $1,200 I dropped on this phone. Despite the nice specs compare the US model, it's just not working out. In the meantime I'll be looking for answers / solutions.

Ambush083 said:
I was going to make another thread, but then I saw this! I live in the US, have T-Mobile and bought a Samsung Galaxy S8+ off eBay from the Korean market. It says SK TELECOM. I currently have a lot of issues. I really regret my decision, but I'm trying to eliminate some possibilities. I spent days troubleshooting with T-Mobile and I not longer believe it to be an issue with them.
As N1NJATH3ORY pointed out, there may be a region lock. My phone appeared factory sealed. Although it doesn't say that I'm roaming or anything like that. My symptoms are: Unable to simultaneously use Data and Voice, phone calls taking approx. 15 minutes to go through and phone calls not being received and going directly to voicemail. Not to mention that some settings just are not available. For instance, Network Mode only shows me 2 options. "Use LTE when available" and "3G only". After talking with T-Mobile techs they mentioned for their phones they have one option that includes an auto-connect, LTE, 4G, 3G, Edge, etc. Since the phone is not originally a T-Mobile line, I could understand why I wouldn't see that. Still it seems very limited to only say "Use LTE when available".
There's also other things that are less pressing, but would be nice to have. Such as: Samsung Pay, WiFi Calling, VoLTE, Carrier Updates, get rid of mandatory camera shutter noise, more SOS features like US, etc.
For right now I would at least like a stable network connection for my phone. I fear I'll have to buy a new phone and have wasted the $1,200 I dropped on this phone. Despite the nice specs compare the US model, it's just not working out. In the meantime I'll be looking for answers / solutions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On mine everything works fine, the only problem could be Samsung pay in US, But all the rest is fine.
(i have 128gb Korea SKT too)

androidrouen said:
On mine everything works fine, the only problem could be Samsung pay in US, But all the rest is fine.
(i have 128gb Korea SKT too)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you also on T-Mobile? I'm going to try to write the individual I bought the phone from. I'll also contact Samsung about the region lock. Maybe that what I'm experiencing?

Try entering the code *#2683662# and configuring the network mode
Sent from my SM-G955N using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 01:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:41 PM ----------
But yeah, if it's factory sealed when you received it you may be SOL. It needs to be opened and activated Korea first.
Sent from my SM-G955N using Tapatalk

Could This Be a Fake S8?

I bought an S8+ 955FD which seems to be genuine but when I contacted AT&T to get assistance with slow LTE speeds (I contacted them 2 months ago for the same reason when I was using an AT&T branded phone). Of course they ask for the IMEI to verify whether it's an LTE phone and is supported. When I gave them the IMEI they said it wasn't even coming up as a Samsung phone let alone LTE. It's listed as an unknown phone with 2G capabilities. I checked the IMEI on http://www.imei.info/ and it shows that it's a S8+ and everything checks out on that site as it does on my Samsung box.
My sister has an S8 too 955F and when AT&T checks hers, it comes up as a Samsung S8+.
I don't know if my having rooted the phone has anything to do with it (I'm guessing not because rooting doesn't change the IMEI) but could this be a fake? Should I return it?

icydius said:
I bought an S8+ 955FD which seems to be genuine but when I contacted AT&T to get assistance with slow LTE speeds (I contacted them 2 months ago for the same reason when I was using an AT&T branded phone). Of course they ask for the IMEI to verify whether it's an LTE phone and is supported. When I gave them the IMEI they said it wasn't even coming up as a Samsung phone let alone LTE. It's listed as an unknown phone with 2G capabilities. I checked the IMEI on http://www.imei.info/ and it shows that it's a S8+ and everything checks out on that site as it does on my Samsung box.
My sister has an S8 too 955F and when AT&T checks hers, it comes up as a Samsung S8+.
I don't know if my having rooted the phone has anything to do with it (I'm guessing not because rooting doesn't change the IMEI) but could this be a fake? Should I return it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very well could be. Where did you buy it? Take a look at this thread.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/help/s8-software-installation-problems-t3639259
If it has a mediatek processor and not a snapdragon or exynos it's definitely a fake.

AT&T does not have anything in their databases about international phones like the F model. When you call them and give them an IMEI of an S8 F model, they will not know anything about it, and their systems won't know what features it is capable of supporting. Ton get Volte working, you will have to flash the ATT CSC https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/samsung-galaxy-s8--s8-cross-device-development/utility-flashable-csc-selection-v1-1-0-t3636739 and keep calling them until you get a 2nd level tech support guy that is willing to go into the guts of their systems and place an IMEI of another ATT phone that has similar features. If you have another similar phone on your ATT account, they can use that IEMI to have their system figure out what features it supports. I believe they used a S7 that I used to have and that got Volte working - for a while anyway.

I have an unlocked S8+ phone Model G955U1 and was with AT&T. In the process of trying to get wifi calling (BTW, they don't provide this feature for unlocked phones, so I dumped them and went with T-Mobile), I asked them to verify the IMEI, they could not find it. Their IMEI data base lists only the phones they sell but not the factory unlocked ones or phones you buy somewhere else. I wouldn't count on AT&T and as ggrant3876 mentioned above, check your processor's make.

Flame Red said:
AT&T does not have anything in their databases about international phones like the F model. When you call them and give them an IMEI of an S8 F model, they will not know anything about it, and their systems won't know what features it is capable of supporting. Ton get Volte working, you will have to flash the ATT CSC https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/samsung-galaxy-s8--s8-cross-device-development/utility-flashable-csc-selection-v1-1-0-t3636739 and keep calling them until you get a 2nd level tech support guy that is willing to go into the guts of their systems and place an IMEI of another ATT phone that has similar features. If you have another similar phone on your ATT account, they can use that IEMI to have their system figure out what features it supports. I believe they used a S7 that I used to have and that got Volte working - for a while anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for replying. Funny, I never got notifications that anyone had replied.
Actually someone did add an IMEI for another similar AT&T phone.
Nothing about the phone seems fake, but when I gave them my sister's IMEI for a 955F they said it immediately came up in their system while my 955FD did not.
I'll review that thread to see if my phone would be negatively affected by the ATT CSC.
BTW, what happened to your voLTE that made it stop working?
Gratitudes!!

ggrant3876 said:
Very well could be. Where did you buy it? Take a look at this thread.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/help/s8-software-installation-problems-t3639259
If it has a mediatek processor and not a snapdragon or exynos it's definitely a fake.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
None of these are applicable *whew*
The seed of doubt was planted when an AT&T rep told me it may be a fake even though I had not previously considered it.
Thanks for the link!!

TheBoozer said:
I have an unlocked S8+ phone Model G955U1 and was with AT&T. In the process of trying to get wifi calling (BTW, they don't provide this feature for unlocked phones, so I dumped them and went with T-Mobile), I asked them to verify the IMEI, they could not find it. Their IMEI data base lists only the phones they sell but not the factory unlocked ones or phones you buy somewhere else. I wouldn't count on AT&T and as ggrant3876 mentioned above, check your processor's make.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel better now, thanks! It shows Exynos 8895 and everything else seemed legit as well. I don't know why I listen to AT&T reps....
I never really liked the Wi-fi calling on my AT&T V20 and even without it, the voice clarity is wonderful.

one way to check is root , real us versions cant be rooted as its a snapdragon , so far our friends in china cant fake an s8 , just by looking at the screen will give it away , but before the years out iam sure they will have a better clone that could fool anyone.international models are always better also faster than the us versions as nd no crap ware from the carriers .

That lack of band 30 could be the issue regarding the slow LTE speeds

icydius said:
I bought an S8+ 955FD which seems to be genuine but when I contacted AT&T to get assistance with slow LTE speeds (I contacted them 2 months ago for the same reason when I was using an AT&T branded phone). Of course they ask for the IMEI to verify whether it's an LTE phone and is supported. When I gave them the IMEI they said it wasn't even coming up as a Samsung phone let alone LTE. It's listed as an unknown phone with 2G capabilities. I checked the IMEI on http://www.imei.info/ and it shows that it's a S8+ and everything checks out on that site as it does on my Samsung box.
My sister has an S8 too 955F and when AT&T checks hers, it comes up as a Samsung S8+.
I don't know if my having rooted the phone has anything to do with it (I'm guessing not because rooting doesn't change the IMEI) but could this be a fake? Should I return it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not a fake dont worry and no rooting will have nothing to do with it, also you would easily be able to tell if you compared it to your sisters s8! the current s8+ fakes are the same size as the S8 theres nothing + about them haha, they may fool someone who has never handled an s8 or seen one irl but you would 100 percent be able to tell its a fake having handled a real one regardless if its the plus or not

Very easier to know is real or not, if Odin can't detect then it is fake. Fake one impossible can install Samsung own firmware.

I know my s8+ is a fake. I just need to know how to change imei number so I can use my phone. It came from China. He said it's supported by TMobile and at&t. I want to go with TMobile if possible. He sent me the pattern to call and change it,but I don't know what numbers to replace it with.

Cecejohns said:
I know my s8+ is a fake. I just need to know how to change imei number so I can use my phone. It came from China. He said it's supported by TMobile and at&t. I want to go with TMobile if possible. He sent me the pattern to call and change it,but I don't know what numbers to replace it with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changing imei numbers is illeagal in most contries. and You will find no help on XDA for such tasks
either way orig user solved his problem thread closed

Carrier Unlocked vs. Verizon model?

When I purchased my Nexus 6P several years ago, I just swapped my Verizon SIM out of my Note 4 and went on my merry way. My Dad asked for a phone recommendation and I recommended the Pixel 2, thinking it would work the same way. Now I discover there's a carrier-unlocked version and a Verizon version. I don't want the Verizon bloatware on his phone and would rather not have to begin by deleting a bunch of apps (if Verizon will actually allow me to uninstall any apps [they love to install bloatware as system apps])as I'm the first step in his tech support hierarchy. I doubt I'll root his phone but I definitely don't want to have a locked bootloader which seems to be the Verizon standard.
If I get him the carrier-unlocked version and put his Verizon SIM card in, will it work on Evil Red's, I mean Big Red's network? I couldn't find any radio differentiation on Google's tech specs page.
Thank you for any information you can provide me.

Narsil007 said:
When I purchased my Nexus 6P several years ago, I just swapped my Verizon SIM out of my Note 4 and went on my merry way. My Dad asked for a phone recommendation and I recommended the Pixel 2, thinking it would work the same way. Now I discover there's a carrier-unlocked version and a Verizon version. I don't want the Verizon bloatware on his phone and would rather not have to begin by deleting a bunch of apps (if Verizon will actually allow me to uninstall any apps [they love to install bloatware as system apps])as I'm the first step in his tech support hierarchy. I doubt I'll root his phone but I definitely don't want to have a locked bootloader which seems to be the Verizon standard.
If I get him the carrier-unlocked version and put his Verizon SIM card in, will it work on Evil Red's, I mean Big Red's network? I couldn't find any radio differentiation on Google's tech specs page.
Thank you for any information you can provide me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It'll work they are all the same. Just don't put the sim in until after the setup process. From my understanding if you get the one from Verizon it will not install Verizon apps if you setup the phone without a sim in it. However you couldn't unlock the bootloader(there's a hack for it I believe).

Verizon installs the MyVerizon and go90 apps from the play store after setup if you have a vzw sim in it which can both be uninstalled. (Google store version does this too)
Only difference in versions is the verizon branded model comes with a sim in it and oem unlock is greyed out

Thank you! I've ordered the Carrier-Unlocked model from the Play Store for him and will set it up for him when it arrives.

I like the blue version, but it seems that Verizon model has it and not the carrier unlocked version. So the question is, if I will pick Verizon from google store, will the unit come carrier unlocked or it will be locked to Verizon?

Charkatak said:
I like the blue version, but it seems that Verizon model has it and not the carrier unlocked version. So the question is, if I will pick Verizon from google store, will the unit come carrier unlocked or it will be locked to Verizon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's carrier unlocked they all are. The only thing you can't unlock is the bootloader.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Tidbits said:
It's carrier unlocked they all are. The only thing you can't unlock is the bootloader.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, that isn't an issue for me. All I need the phone to be sim unlocked. I have heard that original pixel phone which was purchased form Verizon had also bootloader locked. What some users did, was that when they bought the phone new, removed Verizon sim, then turned of phone without the sim card and went through the set up. After that they were able to toggle OEM unlock. I don't know if it is the same for Pixel 2 phones.

Charkatak said:
Oh, that isn't an issue for me. All I need the phone to be sim unlocked. I have heard that original pixel phone which was purchased form Verizon had also bootloader locked. What some users did, was that when they bought the phone new, removed Verizon sim, then turned of phone without the sim card and went through the set up. After that they were able to toggle OEM unlock. I don't know if it is the same for Pixel 2 phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From this point around it Sims that was fixed. You won't get the apps but the bootloader stays unlockable.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Flashing firmware for RCS

Hey all! So I had a Note 10+ that was ATT branded and got unlocked. I was using it on Tmobile and I ODIN'd the tmobile firmware. RCS was looking like a champ. I bought the Note 20 Ultra U1 from Best Buy and not RCS isnt working. I dont have the tmobile boot screen like I did with the Note 10. This is my first unlocked device so Im a little fuzzy on how they work. Should I install the tmobile firmware from Sam Mobile to get RCS features working? I tried the google dialer option and that hasnt seemed to work. Also my phone now shows up on Tmobile as unknown device. Thanks for your help!

neopolotin75 said:
Hey all! So I had a Note 10+ that was ATT branded and got unlocked. I was using it on Tmobile and I ODIN'd the tmobile firmware. RCS was looking like a champ. I bought the Note 20 Ultra U1 from Best Buy and not RCS isnt working. I dont have the tmobile boot screen like I did with the Note 10. This is my first unlocked device so Im a little fuzzy on how they work. Should I install the tmobile firmware from Sam Mobile to get RCS features working? I tried the google dialer option and that hasnt seemed to work. Also my phone now shows up on Tmobile as unknown device. Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a post under guides that shows you how to enable rcs and other things on unlocked USA model.

Note that if you're using RCS on another device associated with that phone number, disconnecting it from chat features first may be necessary to enable it on the new device.

Question AT&T SIM in a Verizon S908U. CSC not changing.

I've been on Verizon for about 10 months now, but would like go switch to AT&T. I put an AT&T Prepaid SIM into the Verizon S22, and was expecting it to restart with the AT&T CSC firmware, but it stayed with the Verizon software. I even got a message saying that because it wasn't a Verizon SIM that some services would be unavailable.
What's going on? I thought all the US S22 Ultras were the same phone whether it's bought from AT&T or Verizon or any other carrier.

Are you using an esim with Verizon? If so try turning it off and letting att be the only one active and it should reboot. You will still keep all the Verizon apps and logo

Nope, I'm using a physical Verizon SIM. Isn't stuff like the boot animation and 5G icons supposed to change, since it's a different carrier?

sjvirchow said:
Nope, I'm using a physical Verizon SIM. Isn't stuff like the boot animation and 5G icons supposed to change, since it's a different carrier?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can happen if the firmware you're on doesn't support "BYOD" yet. This is true of earlier releases of phones on U firmware. U1 supports it out of the box, so you might want to consider flashing U1.

Right but this is a Verizon S22 Ultra. It isn't really early I would think. Aren't all the S22's in the US the exact same phone?

sjvirchow said:
Right but this is a Verizon S22 Ultra. It isn't really early I would think. Aren't all the S22's in the US the exact same phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same hardware but like I said U firmware is hit and miss.

I switched from Verizon to T-Mobile. After 2 weeks I was still running Big Red branding. One day I started having issues with cell service and data. I flashed the latest U1 software and have been problem free ever since.